American Express® Gold vs Apple Card
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express® Gold | Apple Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $325 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points | No current offer |
| Dining | 4x | 2x |
| Groceries | 4x | 2x |
| Gas | 1x | 2x |
| Travel | 3x | 2x |
| Streaming | 1x | 2x |
| Everything else | 1x | 2x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $598 | $583 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Cash back only |
| Network | Amex | Mastercard |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the American Express® Gold earns about $598 a year in rewards and the Apple Card about $583, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express® Gold charges $325, but carries about $424 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Apple Card has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Apple Card delivers more total value, about $99 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and gas. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the American Express® Gold earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Apple Card pays plain cash back. Favor the American Express® Gold if you will use travel transfers, the Apple Card if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the American Express® Gold currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the American Express® Gold if your spending leans toward dining, groceries, travel. Pick the Apple Card if your spending leans toward gas, streaming, everything else.